1621
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Frederick V, Elizabeth, and Prince Frederick Frederick Henry is a 1621 ink by Simon van de Passe, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows three people arranged in a circle. The two adults stand side by side, wearing fancy lace collars and elaborate wigs. The woman holds a child who looks up at them, also dressed in stiff, decorative clothing. The background is plain, focusing all attention on their faces and clothing details. The artist used fine lines and shading to create depth, making the lace and hair look almost three-dimensional. This kind of detail was common in Renaissance portraits meant to show wealth and status. Next, look up *engraving* to see how artists like this one used metal plates to make prints.
Simon van de Passe (1595–1647) was an artist, born in Cologne.
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